Aerodrome.



I J. M. GHRITTON.

AERODROME. APPLICATION FILED Jm.2s,11o;

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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I Q 8141mm JWMJZIZQZZL J. M. GHRITTON.

AERODROME. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28,1910.

. PatntedJan.3,1911

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11211011110115. AIPPLIOATIQN FILED 1111.23, 1910.

Patented Jan.3, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

M. OHRITTON.

ABBODROMB. V IAPPLIOATIOHIILED JA1T.28,1910..

- Patented Jan. 3, 191,1.

I smjw W! JAMES M. onmrron, or ROCKY roan, COLORADO.

AERDDBOME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 1911.

Application filed January 28, 1910. Serial No. 540,619.

To all whom it may concern:

1 Be it known that I, J Annie M. CHRI'rroN,

.a citizen of the United States, residing at Rocky Ford, in the countyof Oteroand State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Aerodrome,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerodromes of that type known as ortho teras'wherein flapping wings are utilized or thepurpose of elevating themachine.

One of thepbjects of the present invention is to provide a machine ofthis character wherein simultaneously movablewingsare mounted at thesides and an elevating plane is mounted above the center, the wlngs andplane working upwardly and downwardly alternately so as to alternatelyexert an elevating action.

A still further object is to provide simple means whereby movement maybe transmitted from the motor to the elevating wings and plane.

A still furtherobject is to provide improved means under the control ofthe aviator whereby the center of gravity can be varied at will so as totilt the wings ,and plane in the direction of their length for thepurpose of soaring or gliding.

A still further object is to provide improved means whereby the centerof gravity can be shifted to meet variations in the velocity of thewind, such as sudden gusts and the like.

A further object is to'provide improved wings and plane so constructedas to move upwardly with practically no resistance from the-atmospherewhile, during the reverse movement thereof, the said wings and planepresent broad planes through which the air cannot pass.

Another object is-to PIOVldB a plane and- I wings having flaps designedto be so positioned during the upward movement thereof as to movethemachine forward, it thus being possible to propel the machine both ina forward and in an upward direction by moving the plane and wingsupwardly and downwardly. I A

A. further object is to provide a wingor planewhich is very light inconstruction and which will not readily get out of order.

Another object is'to provide improved means for steering the machineeither along the ground or while in fli ht.

With .theseand .other 'o jects in view the.

reference invention consists of certain novel details of constructlonand'combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointedout a in the olaims.

In the accom anying drawings the prethe lnvention has been tudinalsection through a portion of said wing. -Fig. 7 is a detail perspectiveview of a portion of one of the flaps ofthe wing and showing one meansof connecting the same tothe supporting wire. Fig. 8 is a transversesection through a flap and showing a modified means for securing it to awire. Fig. 9 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of thespindle of the steering wheel and the adjoining parts. Fig. 10 is anenlarged side ele'vationof the driving gears and their clutches. Fig. 11is a perspective view of one of trussed levers and a portion of the wingcarried thereby. Fig. 12 is an enlarged section. on the line cd Fig. 3.Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on line e'-f Fig.1 8. Fig. 14: is adetail view of one of the universal joints connecting a corner post witha corner standard. Fig. 15 is an enlar ed View partly in section andpartly in e ovation of'theconnections between a crankv and the adjoiningpitmen of the wing actuating mechanism.

' Referrin to thefigures by characters of I q designates the carriage ofthe machine, the same consisting of corner posts 1 connected at theirupper'ends by end and side strips 2 and 3 respectively. Other suit ableconnections are also provided between the posts so as to make a rigidand durable structure, there being an axle l arranged.

, transversely under the; rear portion of the carriae and the ends ofwhich are supporte by wheels 5. Upwardly and forwardly inclined framemembers 6 are se cared to the sides of the carriage and those ortions ofthese strips which are located in front of the carriage frame are bowedand secured together at their outer ends. A.

65 I Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

, end ofjthis spindle and has a wheel 11. jour-- tubular bearing member7 is secured upon the connected ends of these bowed portions and'has alongitudinally extendin slot vtherein, as indicated at 8. A spind e 9 ismounted to rotate within the tubular member 7 and a fork 10 is connectedto the lower naled within it. The said fork is of considerable lengthand extends preferably from the connected ends of the strip 6 anddownwardly a sufiicient distance to permit the wheel 11 to coeperatewith wheels 5 for the 1purpose of holding the carriage Anory in ahorizontal position.

Posts 12' extend u wardly from the centers of the front an rear carria estrips 2 and. are fixed relative thereto, t ese posts supporting a bowedlongitudinally extending brace 13,.the front end of which is secured inany suitable manner to the upper end-of the tubular standard 7. Theseposts also constitute supports for the propeller shaft 14. The rear endportion of this shaft.

j extends through a bearing sleeve 15 which is attached to and extendsrearwardly from the rear post 12, the blades of the propeller beingsecured to the rear terminal of the shaft. These blades have beenindicated at 16 and may be of any preferred type although they arereferably shaped and mounted as shown I in t e drawings. A grooved wheelor a sprocket 17 is secured to the shaft 14 and is adapted to bedriven'by a belt or chain 18.

. This. beltor chain receives. motion from a wheel or sprocket 19 whichis normally loosely mounted on the shaft 20 of the motor 1 21, therebeing a clutch 22 by. means of which the wheel or sprocket can be placedinto or out of connection with the shaft 20. This clutch is designed tobe actuated by a lever 23 mountedupon the carriage A and which transmitsmotion through a rod 24 tea clutch engaging lever 25.

A gear 26 is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 20. and meshes witha gear 27 which is normally'loosely mounted on a shaft Y 28 journaledwithin the post 12 near the lower end thereof. A clutch 29 is featheredon the shaft 28 and is adapted to be actuated by a lever 30 which isconnected, by means of a rod 31 with the said clutch 29. By shifting theclutch into engagement with gear 27 the said gear can-be operativelycon- 7 A shiftable frame B to f nected to the shaft 28. and motiontherefore transmitted from gear 26 through gear 27 J to the shaft. Acrank 32 is arran ed at each end of the shaft 28 and is for t e'p'urposehereinafter set forth. v

is arranged sibove the carriage and consists of corner standards 33located directly above the posts, Land con- 1 nectedto the respectiveposts by means of universal joints 34. Side strips 35' connect thestandards-33 at'intermediate points and are pivotally connected to themas shown at 36, and additional side strips 37 are pivotally connected,as at 38, to the upper portions of the standards 33. These strips 35 and37 are parallel with the side strips 3 of the carriage A. A. frontconnecting strip 39 is pivotall attached, as at 40, to the front standars 33, and another connecting stri 41 is pivotally attached to the rearstandar s 33 both of the strips 39 and 41 being parallel with the frontand rear strips 2 of the carriage.

A shaft 42 is j ournaled upon the side strips .3 and is dis osedparallel with the front and rear ends 0 said carriage, there beingcranks 43 at the end of the shaft and each of which has a pitman 44mounted u on it. These pitmen are connected to the ront standards 33,the connection being such as to permit the standards to swin either fromfront to rear or from side to slde. An actuatin ver'45 is secured to theshaft 42 an by means thereof the said shaft can be shifted so as totransmit motion through the pitmen 44 to the standards 33 and thus swinrthe standards forwardly or rearwardly with relation to the carriage A.This movement is of course permitted in view of the fact that all of theconnections between the standards are arallel. Any suitable means, suchas a standards being such as to permit the said standards to swingeither laterally or from front to rear without interference. The

shaft 47 is also provided with an actuatin lever 50 which may be lookedin adjuste position in any preferred manner as by means of a'toothedsegment 51 designed to be engaged by a dog carried by the ever.

The s indle. 9' heretofore referred tohas forward y converging rods5land 52 extending throughthe upper and lower ortions thereof"respectively, the up er r being -arr'anged within the slot 8 while thelower rod 52 is preferably mouikted in that portion of the spmdlelocated be w the connected ends of the stripsG. 'I e two rods areconnected by sections 53 of silk or other suitable fabric, the saidsections being stretched between the rods and constituting the rudder ofthe machine. Stron cords 54 are attached to the rear endvof t e rudderand are passed around ulleys 55 connected to the strips 6 and t onceover pulleys 56 which are supported by the upper por- 7 3 and 74: arebowed downwardly to a slight no I tions of the front posts 1. From thesepulleys 56 the cords extend partly ar mrlnd pnlextent and are connected,at regular 1nterleys 57 which are connected to the strips 6 vals, bycross wires 76 extending transat points adjacent the axle 4i and the endverselyj under a series of longitudinally ex- 5 portions of the cordsare then extended I tending reinforcing wires 77. These rein- 7g;

transversely of the carriage A and attached forcing wires are secured tothe cross strips to an actuating lever 58 carried by the Car- 75 and tothe upper members a of the levers riage A and provided with any suitable61 and are for the purpose hereinafter set means, such as a toothedsegment 59, for forth. Each of the cross wires or cords 76 1p looking itagainst movement. Obviously, has a flap 78 of silk or any other suitable75 by shifting this lever 58 to the right or to light fabric supportedloosely by it, the said the left motion will be transmitted thereflapsextending throughout the width of the from through the cords 54 to therudder so wing or, in other words from the strip 74 as to cause therudder to swing about the to the strip 72. The flap may be attachedlongitudinal center of, the tubular standards by threading the wire orcord 76 through 89 7. Spindle 9 and fork 10 'will also be partly theupper edge portion thereof, as shown rotated and, when the machine istraveling a-rticularly in Figs. 5 and 7, or, if prealong the ground, itwill befa parent that terred, tabs-79 may be extended from the the wheel11 can thus be shi ted so as to upper edge portion of eachyflap andlooped properly guide it. Therudder supportin about the wire or cord asshown in Fi 8. Structure an be l'fi n orfied in any P e e r In eitherinstance the flap normally hangs manner, there being preferably anarrangeloosely from the Wire.

ment of guy wires 60 connecting the 11 per Hangers .80 extend downwardlyfrom the end of the tubular standard 7 with the rent id stri s 72 and 74and are connected in 25 Corner post 1. Other guy wires may be 10- anypreferred manner as by means of wires Gate at desired p nts Within thecarriage- 81 or the like extended under and parallel structure so as toreinforce the same.- with the side strips 72 and 74, these hangers Theparts heretofore described constitute and connections being secured to aretainthe main body of themachine, the propeling apron 82 formed of silkor other suitable 30 ling and the steering mechanism. The light butstrong'fabric, the lower edge pormeans utilized for elevating themachine tion of each apron being disposed below consists of side wings Cand D and an inthe lower edges of the flaps 78. Parallel retermediateliftin plane E; The two wings taining wires or cords 83 connect the sideC and I) are simi a r in construction and each aprons at points belowthe wires or cords 7 6 '35 colnsists of two trussed levers-61 formed ofand these retaining wires or cords constitute light metal tubing or another suitable abutments for the flaps 78 and serve to prematerial Thupp a d OWEI m s a vent the flaps from hanging perpendicu- I and b ofthe lever are secured together at l d All f th fl are nornmuy i theirends while at intermediate points re clined slightly to the rear. Itwill be ap- 40 arranged spacing strips 62 and 63, the strip parenttherefore that when the wing is 62 being provided with an aperture forthe moved downwardly the air in the path recep i n of 1 Wrist pin 4:,located j c thereof will cause the flaps toswing upthe upper end of apitman 65. This pitman rdly against the net-work made up of is pivotallyconnected as at 66 to a lever 67 wires or cords 76 and 77 and the flaps,when 5 W c is eifi at l thus elevated, will lap and form an imper- 11oend Of a Side Strip 3 A itmall 69 0011- forate plane through which theair cannot nects one end of thlS lever 6- to one of the pass, Moreoverthe depending aprons at cranks 32heret0fore ment one A fu the sides ofthe wing serve to prevent the air 1 block 70 is secured between theinner meetf ing laterally during this down- 50 ing ends of the members aand b of the lever d n'mvement f th win and th ifi.

1 and this block has one or e p g ciency of the said wing is thus'materially 71 for the reception of a bearing stud exi d, M

l tending from one end of the upper side-strip Ar 84: are extendedinwardly from the 37. (Two levers 61 are used in the construcb i blo k70 and la ,-the said arms as tion of each wing, said leversbein mountedworking in parallel vertical planes. The upon the two ends of the str ps3 and each free end of each arm is connected to a being pro de Wlth thearticular e hanger. 85 which is pivotally attached to one ticn with acrank 32, S116. h been of a pair of cross ribs 86'connecting the sidescribed. .7 ribs ofcthe intermediate lifting plane w larellellongitudinally extending ribs72 The side vribs 87 are bowedlongitudinally 731and Mare secured upon the levers 61st and areconnected at their ends by cross angles thereto, the said ribs extendingribs 88. T he structure of this plane is forwardly and rearwardlybeyond, the levers similar, to that of each of the win 5 retov and beingconnected to ether at their ends,- fore described,- there being looselyepending -F r n i Th i sis e t-ri tranngersely tendingifi so whiph areI,

' supported normally in inclined positions by the retaining wiresorcords 90 and are de signed, when ,the plane is drawn downwardly, toswing upwardly against a net:'

work of wires or cords or the like connecting the ribs.

The operation of the machine is. as follows :The aviator seats himselfupon the seat 91 located upon the rear portion of the mitted throughthebelt or chain 18 to wheel 17 and thence to the propeller shaft 14.

The machine will therefore be propelled forwardly, it being supported onthe ground by the wheels 5 and 11.v It becomes possible to steer themachine while thus traveling over the .ground, simply by shifting thelever 58 so as to transmit motion through the cords'54 to the rudder andthence to the stem 9.' After the machine has been given a sufficientmomentum the clutch 29 can be shifted so as to connect the gear 27 withshaft 28. The cranks 32 will therefore be rapidly rotated and the pitmen69 given an oscillatory movement so, as to work the levers 6'1 upontheir fulcrums. Motion will therefore be transmitted from these leversto the pitmen and to the levers 61 and the wings and the intermediateplane will thereforebe set motion. During the upward movement of the"wings C and D, the

arms 84, a'reswun'g downwardly and there-v b fore pull downwardly on theintermediate plane E. The flaps carried by the. frame of said plane willtherefore swing upwardly against the wire network and prevent the airfrom passing through the plane. The

- "fsaid plane will therefore operate to elevate the entire machine andwhen it reaches the limit of its downward movement such as described,the wing s-C and D, which have been elevated during such movement, willbegin dtomove downwardly. 1 The flaps carried by these wings will act inthe same manner as the flaps of the plane E and said wings willtherefore operate to elevate the entire machine. during the downwardmovement of the intermediate plane; It will thus be seen that the planeand the wings operate alternately so .that acontinuous upward movementof the machineis produced thereby,

If the propeller is in motion the machine movement and the flapswilltend to lie close will be driven forward during this upward to, thewires 76 so that by stopping the movement of the wings and theintermediate plane, the machine can be caused to soar after the mannerof an ordinary aeroplane.

One of theprincipal advantages resulting from the structure hereindescribed is the fact that the machine is capable of hovering over afixed point and that its rise is not dependent upon momentum imparted bythe propeller. The machine is, however, capaand the pro eller can beoperated simultaneously. S ould it be des red tochange the altitude ofthe machine without operatmg the wings and intermediate plane, the

aviator may shift the center of gravity by manipulating the lever 45..Shaft 42 will therefore be rocked and will pull or push Should the saidwingsand plane be shifted forwardl the weight of the carriage, etc.,

would 0 course tend to tilt them so as to elevate the front edgesthereof, and the machine, during its forward'movement, would then rise.The machine can also be lowered by so shiftingthe parts as to inclinethe wings and planedownwardly toward their front ends. 'Any sudden gustof wind meeting the machine at the sides can be ofi-set by shifting theweight laterally by means of the lever 50. Thislever can also be usedfor centering themachine prior to a fli ht. As shown in Fig. 6 and ashereto ore stated, the flaps of the wingsand plane as sum-e inclinedpositions during the upward movement thereof, the said flaps restingagainst the cords or wires 83 and 90. It will be apparent therefore thatduring themovement of the plane E and the win s C and D, these fla swill present inclined faces to the air and thus cause the machine to bepropelled forward to a slight extent durin each upward movement of theplane E an wings C and D. Obviously therefore the vertical reciprocationof the wings and plane can be used to propel the machine forward as wellas to elevate it, without the necessity of utilizing apropeller 16.

It is ofcourse to be understood that vari ous changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of-the invention as definedin the appended claims.

- What is claimed is '.1. In an aerodrome, an elevating elementcomprising a frame, said frame being bowed in the direction of- 'itslength, flexible flaps loosely supported within and extending below theframe, the'width of each flap being greater than the distance betweentwo adjoining flaps, a rons fixedly connected -to and depending mm thesides of the frame, means connecting theaprons for limiting the downwardmovement ofthe fla s relative to the frame, and means secure to the 70ble of soaring and, if desired, the wings frame for limiting the upwardmovement of the flaps relative thereto.

An aerodrome including a carriage, side wings connected thereto andextending beyond the sides thereof, an intermediate ably connected tosaid standards said means including side wings mounted for up and downoscillation, and an intermediate plane mounted for up and downreciprocation,

said plane being movable in one direction during the movement of thewings in the opposite direction.

4. An aerodrome including a carriage, standards connected thereto byuniversal joints, elevating .eleinents connected to the standards, rockshafts mounted on the carriage, separate means for actuating therespective shafts, connections between each shaft and certain of thestandards for swinging all of the standardsin the. directioniof thelength of the. carriage, and connections between the other shafts andcertain of said standards for transmitting motion from the shaft to thestandards to shift the standards laterally. e

5. An aerodrome including opposed wings mounted for up and down swingingmovement, means for actuating said wings, arms extending inwardly fromthe wings, an intermediate plane, and connections between the plane andarms, said connections and arms operating to bodily reciprocate theplane in a direction opposite to the wmgs durin the oscillation of thewings.

6. I n an aerodrome, a carriage, standards connected thereto foruniversal movement relative to the carriage, trussed levers supported bythe standards and mounted to swing in planes perpendicular to thecarriage, means for locking the standards against movement relativetothe carriage, frames mounted on the levers, flaps loosely connected toand normally suspended from the frames, and means for actuating the levers and frames to swing the flaps within the frames, said flaps beingadapted to lap during the downward movement of the frames to constitutea lifting plane.

7. An aerodrome includinga carriage, a crank shaft mounted for rotationthereon, means for actuating the shaft, oppositely extending elevatingwings above and connected to the carriage, each wing including levers,aframe upon the levers, and trans versely extendingQflaps looselysupported within the frame, and mechanism for transmitting motion fromthe crank shaft to each wing, said mechanism including an intermediatelever, and pitinan connections between the respective ends of said leverand the crank shaft and a lever'of the wing.

8. In an aerodrome, an elevating element including a/ frame, flapsloosely supported therein, a rons fixedly connected to and depending romthe sides of the frame, means connecting the aprons for limiting thedown-' ward movement of the flaps relative to the frame, and meanssecured to the frame for limiting'the upward movement of the flaps,

relative thereto.

v 9. An aerodrome including wings, an elevating plane, powertransmitting connections between the wings and the plane, means foractuating the conrgections to simultaneously reciprocate the lane andoscillate the wings,ita.propeller an means for tilting the plane an tothe propeller.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses. V e ,7

JAMES M. CHRITTON.

Witnesses C. R. GooDNER, G. M. CorrMAN.

wings rom front to rear relatives

